Labour Clifton North Councillor Attacks Residents Over 'Blasphemy'

I think we can all agree with Cllr Graham Chapman, the deputy Leader of Nottingham City Council, that we should all very proud that Nottingham has been found to be the most religiously tolerant place in the UK. There is a very good mix of cultures in Nottingham and religious friendship and toleration is plentiful.

Cllr Pat Ferguson, on the right, has attacked residents over 'blasphemy'.

However, this is not the case with Clifton North Labour councillor Pat Ferguson. Cllr Ferguson was elected earlier this year in a by-election after sadly just beating the Conservative Andrew Rule by about 100 votes. Unfortunately for her, and Nottingham's title of being the most religiously tolerant place in the country, she has said that she will not tolerate any 'blasphemy' by residents of Clifton on their Facebook group. Cllr Ferguson has said "When some residents are blaspheming, using the JC names as an expletive, I am flippant."

#ThingsElliottSays has actually been emailed this by residents of Clifton who are not very happy with Cllr Pat Ferguson's personal attacks on her constituents, arguments, stealing other people's ideas (including the Conservative Clifton North councillors), and posting constantly and at length about things that are not very relevant on the Clifton Facebook group. Here are some of the Resident's comments about Pat below:

Members of Nottingham Labour and multiple Nottingham University Labourites (including senior ex-committee members) have also spoken to #ThingsElliottSays before about Cllr Ferguson. They have described her as 'erratic', 'constantly posting on Facebook', 'not very constructive' and 'not an ideal choice as councillor'. It seems religious intolerance is not Cllr Ferguson's only problems at the moment. Will she get re-elected in 2015?

Lillian Greenwood MP with the intolerant and 'erratic' Cllr Pat Ferguson. Photo courtesy of Cllr Michael Edward's Blog.

Nottingham Labour On Strike Against Itself

Today Nottingham Labour is on strike against itself. Nottingham Labour councillors, prospective councillors and activists have either stopped working for the people of Nottingham or are encouraging others to stop working for Nottingham City Council. The City Council is Labour controlled so in essence they're striking against themselves.

The Nottingham Labour official twitter account @NG_Labour have re-tweeted Steve Battlemuch the Labour councillor for Wollaton West in support of his participation in a strike march for Nottingham City Council. Cllr Battlemuch works full time for the PCS union.

Cllr Battlemuch says that other councillors had joined him on the picket lines but we are unsure exactly which ones. However, checking the Twitter accounts of Nottingham Labour councillors reveals a few who are supporting or are out on strike. These include Cllrs Sally Longford for Wollaton East and Lenton Abbey and David Mellon, who is the lead councillor for children and also standing as the Labour candidate to be MP for Rushcliffe.

Prospective Wollaton West councillor and trade union official, Nick Raine, was also out on strike with Dennis Skinner MP in Chesterfield. His twitter was full of tweets urging others to stop working for Nottingham City Council, which he wants to work for. It's a bit odd that the slate of prospective Labour councillors for Wollaton West are union officials. I wonder if the residents approve of this?

I haven't been able to confirm if other Labour councillors were out on strike, the likelihood is more were. But isn't it a bit odd for Nottingham Labour councillors, prospective councillors and activists to try and urge people to stop working in the City Council which they control. Essentially they are giving out the message that people shouldn't work for them. I find that a bit strange. It's not often that people strike against themselves. Perhaps it is an epiphany for Nottingham Labour as they have realised they really are not very good at running the City Council? Bring on the 2015 local elections and hopefully a Conservative victory then.

The Conservatives are very clear on strike action. The closure of 11 day care centres, 27 schools (with 20 partially closed), 9 children's centres, 3 leisure centres (6 with some disruption), all but one library, Nottingham Castle and the stoppage of all bin collections in Nottingham is not on (other services may have been affected too). People need these services and they should not be disrupted by quasi-political strikes. Everyone today has had their life made harder in some way. It's just a shame Nottingham Labour are backing these strikes and that Red Ed is a not saying anything and quietly supporting these strikes too.

Exclusive: Nottingham Councillor says 'Shame' Students Live in Lenton

Nottingham's Council are well known for not being friends of students. It's no surprise then that Cllr Mohammad Aslam, who is the Labour Councillor for the student area around Kimbolton Avenue and Lenton Boulevard, said it was a 'shame' houses are being converted for students to live in.

Cllr Aslam said "Nottingham Council overturns every application for HMOs [Houses of Multiple Occupation*] in the Lenton Triangle but sometimes these are overturned by central government, which is a shame." Cllr Aslam explained to me that, despite Nottingham Council's policy to refuse all student houses, appeals put forward by landlords are sometimes successful, which causes the Council frustration. 

Students not welcome.

Indeed this was clear in the recent Nottingham Labour Autumn newsletter proudly boasting 'your local Labour councillors put a lot of work into opposing any more HMOs'. Another councillor said on the Labour newsletter because "there will be some new occupants this year so we will need to be vigilant again. Rest assured, despite the setback, we will be opposing any more HMOs in the ward". This is the same newsletter which featured Nottingham Labour councillors praising a driver's 'considerate' parking of car when it was on a pavement. 

Why is Nottingham Council so against students? It's mostly electoral pandering to those who vote in the Lenton area. Many people there do not like students so to win votes the ruling Labour Party opposes student housing.

I think it is wrong to discriminate students here just to study and enjoy Nottingham. Not only this, but Nottingham University provides £520 million to the local economy. This figure also doesn't count the students themselves who choose to spend their money on food, clothing and Jager Bombs. This is a significant boost to Nottingham.

Nottingham Labour isn't very positive about the asset of University Students.

Also, where else can we live? Nottingham Council thinks that the student population should live still in purpose built student accommodation to keep us away from other people in Nottingham. This may be halls on Campus or the private halls like Nottingham One.

Halls is a good year first experience, but after freshers its even better to get your own house and receive even more freedom. It's no wonder then that the private Halls are failing. The Nottingham One campus, run by Opal group, called in the administrators, no wonder when it charged £112.80 a week for the most basic rooms.

Looks nice, but costs way too much to consider.

I profoundly disagree with Nottingham Council on Student Houses. I don't think students should be terrorising neighbours but equally students shouldn't be persecuted and have attempts made against them living where they choose. Students can only stop this however if they get out and vote to end Labour anti-student tyranny. 

Nottingham Labour's current website shows they're not doing anything for students, or anyone else for that matter.

*The legal jargon for student houses.